Please note that the full rules are detailed in the official CUBIC Rules of Operation - the below should be considered as guidelines only.

Authorised Persons are required to have knowledge of the rules and procedures in the Rules of Operation - these guidelines are not intended as a replacement for AP training.

Scanning a participant requires the presence of two authorised persons (APs), at least one of whom must be an employee of one of the four CUBIC partner institutions, and at least on of whom is a full AP (not probationary).

No one may be scanned for a longer time than 90 minutes within a 24h period.

The controlled area referred to below includes the scanner room and the equipment room but excludes the control room.

No-one is allowed to enter the controlled area without having undergone a complete screening to ensure it is safe to do so. In particular, the following individuals must not enter the controlled area at any time:

• individuals with implants of any kind (aneurysm clips, occlusive clips, heart valve replacements, pacemakers, catheters)
• pregnant women
• children under 6 years of age
• individuals with metallic splinters in the eye or other parts of the body, e.g. from working in a metal workshop

Only objects and materials that are verified MR-safe are allowed in the controlled area. Objects that must not be brought inside the scanner room include:

• any ferromagnetic object or metal object that may interact with the magnetic field, including gas cylinders and fire extinguishers, unless certified MR-safe
• electronic equipment unless certified MR safe
• credit cards and similar devices with magnetic strips
• mechanical watches
• loose jewellery
• electrical or magnetically operated devices

Participants to be scanned must be registered with a GP in the United Kingdom - this needs to be verified before the scanning slot is booked to avoid last-minute cancellations. Every participant must be screened twice; first, before being registered on the scanner console, to ensure they fulfill the criteria for being scanned safely (i.e., not being in any of the categories listed above and in the Rules of Operation) and second, just prior to scanning, to ensure they do not carry any objects that may be unsafe in the controlled area. Screening must be done using the approved screening forms available in the Rules of Operations document and in the Forms section of the wiki.

In the event that a scan reveals a suspected abnormality the MRI Safety Officer ari.lingeswaran@rhul.ac.uk must be notified immediately and will forward the relevant images to a Consultant Radiologist who will provide a report on the findings. If this reports indicates that further action is needed, the participant's GP will be sent a copy of the report by CUBIC staff and advised to contact the participant for any further procedures. The participant will not be contacted directly by CUBIC staff. Do not inform the participant of any suspected abnormalities to avoid causing distress due to false alarms.

In the event of a threat to life caused by the magnetic field (e.g., a person pinned to the scanner by a large metal object), the field should by quenched by pressing the quench button in the scanner or control room. See Appendix 5 in the Rules of Operation.

In the event of a medical emergency that does not involve the magnetic field, the person should be removed from the controlled area if it is safe to do so (e.g., unless the person has an injury that precludes moving them). See Appendix 5 in the Rules of Operation.

In the event of a fire or electrical fault the electrical power to the scanner should be shut down using the buttons in the scanner or control rooms - this does not quench the magnetic field. See Appendix 6 in the Rules of Operation.

Operate the nearest fire alarm, then evacuate according to the procedures in Appendix 6 detailed in the Rules of Operation.

All faults must be reported to the MRI Safety Officer ari.lingeswaran@rhul.ac.uk as soon as possible.

Should the use of equipment produce an accident, near miss or hazardous situation, operation must cease immediately until the cause is investigated and the hazard is removed.

Faults should also be reported to other users by posting a note on the Important updates forum on the wiki.